Voices For Children Foundation, a Miami not-for-profit organization serving children in foster care, recently provided more than 300 children in the Miami-Dade County foster care system the uniforms and supplies they need for the new school year as part of the organization’s fourth annual “Back to School” event.
Foster children between 4 and 18 years of age who are currently in the dependency system and represented by the 11th Judicial Circuit Guardian ad Litem Program picked up the supplies on Sunday, July 27, at Old Navy, 7220 N. Kendall Dr.
Thanks to donations from the Micky and Madeleine Arison Family Foundation, among other donors, children received up to $100 to choose and purchase new school uniforms at partner Old Navy at the Shoppes at Dadeland, which provided a special discount for the occasion. Every child also received a sackpack full of school supplies, courtesy of the Office Depot Foundation. “We’re thrilled that so many foster children will be able to start the school year with new clothes and all the supplies they need,” said Nelson F. Hincapie, president and CEO of Voices For Children Foundation.
“We are grateful to our partners and sponsors for making this event possible, year after year.”
“Many foster children have more sad memories than happy ones. During this event, I had the honor to witness many happy faces full of joy and dreams,” said Victor Pulido, a former foster child served by Voices For Children who attended the event in support.
“Without a doubt, these children will cherish the opportunities given to them that evening. As a former foster child, I want to give many thanks to Voices For Children and all of its supporters for looking after us and giving us the opportunity to feel loved,” he added.
Voices For Children Foundation is a notfor- profit organization that raises money to help ensure that abused, abandoned, and neglected children in Miami-Dade County each have a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem and that financial assistance and other resources are available for their health, educational, and social needs.
Guardians ad Litem are trained, courtappointed adults who serve as their representative voices in dependency court proceedings.
Currently, more than 3,100 children are in Miami-Dade County’s Foster Care system and 1,003 children are unrepresented by Guardians ad Litem.
For more information, please visit www.BeAVoice.org.
